KINGSTON, R.I. — November 8, 2004 — The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Theatre is bringing Disney’s version of the beloved tale Beauty & the Beast to Rhode Island audiences in a new and original production. Disney’s Beauty & the Beast is a wonderfully entertaining musical for children and adults and URI Theatre is thrilled to be the first non-profit theatre in Rhode Island to produce it.
The production will be performed in the Robert E. Will Theatre, Fine Arts Center Dec. 2 through 4 and 8 through 11 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. and Dec. 11 and 12 at 2 p.m.
The play was nominated for nine 1994 Tony awards, including “Best Musical” and won London’s “Olivier Award for Best Musical.”
This eye-popping spectacle, based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, will be filled with technical splendor, dazzling production numbers and heart-warming characters. Beauty & the Beast seems to have been the perfect choice for Disney’s first theatrical venture on the Great White Way. Currently, Beauty & the Beast is the sixth longest running show in Broadway history.
The score, by Alan Menken, Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman, features suchmemorable songs as Be Our Guest, Belle, and Beauty & the Beast. The film music received two Oscars, for “Best Original Musical Score” and “Best Song” (for the evocative title ballad.) People raved about the music n the film, including Frank Rich, theatre critic of the New York Times who pointed out that “the best musical score of 1991 isn’t on Broadway; it’s in Disney’s film Beauty & the Beast.” This same film score is featured in the URI Theatre stage version with six major new songs added to flesh out the story onstage.
Disney’s Beauty & the Beast will be directed by Paula McGlasson; costume design by David T. Howard; set design by Cheryl deWardener, lighting design by Christian Wittwer; and sound design by Peter Nabut.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students/senior citizens and children. For reservations and information, please call the URI/Theatre Box Office at 874-5843. This production is partially funded by Theta Chi Fraternity.
Paula McGlasson, URI Theatre chair and play director expects this production will appeal to people of all ages and feels that it is especially fulfilling to see hundreds of children coming to the theatre. This show can open the door to the magical world of live theatre to everyone from the age of 2 to 90. As Michael Eisner, Disney’s chairman stated: “If successful, this show will be a lifelong memory for a new generation of theatergoers, and it will bring a new meaning to the word Disney for veteran theatergoers.”
Members of the cast are:
Brad Kirton Beast of Coventry, R.I.
Jenette DelMonaco Ensemble
of Coventry, R.I.
Kyle Blanchette Chorus
of Coventry, R.I.
Lindsey Neues Chorus of Cumberland, R.I.
Dylan Rosser Chip of E. Greenwich, R.I.
Kyle Maddock Beast
Double of Glocester, R.I.
Andrew Holder Ensemble
of Narragansett, R.I.
Daniel J. Korn Ensemble
of Newport, R.I.
Dan DaCunha Lumiere of Pawtucket, R.I.
Alejandro Alvarez Carpet,
Chorus of W. Warwick, R.I.
Danielle Towne Chorus of Wakefield, R.I.
Joe Short DíArque,
Chorus of Wakefield, R.I.
Donald J. Dallaire Gaston
of Warren, R.I.
Erin M. Olson Mrs.
Potts of Warren, R.I.
Danielle Guillette Ensemble
of Warwick, R.I.
Richard Blue Cogsworth
of Warwick, R.I.
Tiffany Page Belle of Warwick, R.I.
Amanda Ruggiero Chorus
of Woonsocket, R.I.
Ryan Romanowski Ensemble
of Clintondale, N.Y.
Seth Finkle LeFou of Gloversville, N.Y.
Alison Kantrowich Madame
delaGrande Bouche of Southhampton,
N.Y.
Stephanie Sherman Salt,
Female Ensemble of Marlbobo, N.J.
Jaclyn Marfuggi Babette
of Trenton, N.J.
Dana Merson Chorus of W. Orange, N.J.
Joe Kidawski Chorus of Framingham, Mass.
Ian R.I.chardson Ensemble
of Norwell, Mass.
Alison Kubinski Chorus
of Enfield, CT
Haley Hanson Silly Girl
and Chorus of Grass Valley, CA
Leah Kolb Silly Girl
and Plate of Sacramentto, CA
Patrick D. Poole Ensemble of Pemberton, NJ